"The Man From Nowhere" sweeps Korea Film Awards

Korean action movie "The Man From Nowhere" [CJ Entertainment]

"The Man From Nowhere" triumphed at the 2010 Korea Film Awards on Thursday, raking up the most trophies at the annual ceremony including its main star Won Bin who won the prize for best actor.

The action flick directed by Lee Jeong-bum took the awards for best actor, best new actress, best cinematography, best music, best lighting, best visual effects and best editor.

The movie, also starring child actress Kim Sae-ron, has been one of the hottest movies of the year, attracting over six million moviegoers during its run on the box office for several months starting August.

Won Bin, 33, had been up against Park Joong-hoon for "My Dear Desperado," Park Hui-soon for "A Barefoot Dream," Choi Min-sik for "I Saw the Devil" and Jung Jae-young for "Moss."

Won Bin's role as a reclusive former special agent who befriends a young girl next door has won him his second award for best actor -- the Daejong Film Awards held in late October deemed him the best actor of the year as well.

Meanwhile, Seo Young-hee nabbed the award for best actress with her role in "Bedevilled," ousting nominees Yoon Jeong-hee for "Poetry," Jeon Do-youn for "The Housemaid," Moon So-ri for "Hahaha" and Jung Yu-mi for "My Dear Desperado."

Critically acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong's film "Poetry" starring veteran actress Yoon Jeong-hee took the prize for best picture, best director and best screenplay.

The picture has won a total five awards for best screenplay, including at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the Buil Film Festival, Korea Film Critics Association Award and the Daejong Film Awards.


Awards
▲ Best Picture: "Poetry"
▲ Best Director: Lee Chang-dong ("Poetry")
▲ Best New Director: Jang Cheol-su ("Bedevilled")
▲ Best Actor: Won Bin ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Actress: Seo Young-hee ("Bedevilled")
▲ Best Supporting Actor: Yoo Hae-jin ("Moss")
▲ Best Supporting Actress: Yoon Yeo-jung ("The Housemaid"
▲ Best New Actor: Song Sae-byuk ("A Story of Bangja")
▲ Best New Actress: Kim Sae-ron ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Cinematography: Lee Tae-yoon ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Music: Shim Hyun-jung ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Art Direction: Park Il-hyun ("A Story of Bangja")
▲ Best Screenplay: Lee Chang-dong ("Poetry")
▲ Best Lighting: Lee Cheol-oh ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Sound: Gong Tae-won ("Midnight FM")
▲ Best Visual Effects: Park Jung-ryul ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Best Editor: Kim Sang-beom Kim Jae-beom ("The Man From Nowhere")
▲ Lifetime Achievement: Shin Sung-il

Jessica Kim jesskim@
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Song Seung Hun’s ‘Ghost’ Ranks Second at Japanese Box Office

The much-talked-about movie “Ghost: In Your Arms Again,” in which Hallyu star actor Song Seung Hun and Japanese star actress Nanako Matsushima appear together, has been released in Japan and ranked in second place at the Japanese box office.

According to a Japanese research institute, “Ghost: In Your Arms Again,” which is a remake of the movie "Ghost" starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, had been released all around Japan on November 13 and ranked second at the weekend box-office.

In the film, Korean potter Joon Ho (Song Seung Hun) meets a successful CEO Nanami (Nanako Matsushima) in Tokyo and they fall in love with each other. But Nanami leaves this world due to a sudden accident and she comes back to see Joon Ho as a ghost. A sensitive melodrama, “Ghost : In Your Arms Again“ will be released in Korea on November 25.

source: KBS Global

The Good, the Bad, the Weird [ Korean Movie 2008 ]

Genre : Action, Comedy, Western
Starring : Song Kang-ho , Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung
Release date : July 17, 2008
Runtime :139 min.
Directed by: Kim Ji-woon

Synopsis:

With the Korean Peninsula under Japanese rule in 1930s, many Koreans flock to Manchuria for refuge. Some become bandits, some train robbers and yet others bounty hunters. While the Weird, a notorious train robber, is stealing from a Japanese train crossing the Manchurian plains, he discovers a treasure map. But the map is also sought after by the Bad, a merciless gang leader. Coincidentally, the Good, a bounty hunter, is on the train, and he is after the Bad. The three engage in a spectacular chase with the Japanese Army, the Korean independence fighters, and the Chinese bandits all looking to get their hands on the prized map.

[source: http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr]

Gallery:

Kim Ha-neul cast as female lead for upcoming thriller

A still from the upcoming thriller "Blind" [NEW]

Korean actress Kim Ha-neul has been cast as the female lead for a new upcoming thriller film.

A press release from movie promoter's NEW on Tuesday announced that Kim will be playing the female lead role opposite Korean actor Yoo Seung-ho in a crime pic titled "Blind."

"When I received the scenario it was a role that I felt would test my level as an actress. I want to put all my energy into the movie and meet the expectations of the staff and fans," Kim was quoted as saying.

"Blind," helmed by Ahn Sang-hoon, is about a visually impaired woman (Kim) who witnesses a horrendous crime while Yoo will play the male lead who acts as the 'eyes' for Kim's character.

The movie had won the awards as the best and most popular project at the "2009 Hit By Pitch" hosted by the Producers Guild of Korea which aims at enhancing producers' expertise and revitalizing film productions.

“Blind” is scheduled to open in local theaters in summer of 2011.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>